THE MIND

The result of the 2008 Philippine bar examinations is soon to be out. Somebody from Manila informed me that it will be out on the first week of April. However, there were a buzzing news last week that it will be out on that week. I was one of the 6,500+++ examinees last September 2008, and when that buzzing news came out, so many things entered my mind that because of my vulnerability during that time even things that is not related to the bar exam entered my mind and my physical body was really tired. I did a thing that is not supposed to be done.(What is that thing?...hehehe...it's between me and my God) During our church family meeting last Saturday, it made me pray for forgiveness because I gave permission to enter it in my mind.

God remind me of what I wrote in my blog the other week "THE ALABASTER JAR", that in our walk according to God's will nobody is exempted, INCLUDING ME. In that situation, I learned a deeper understanding of how fragile our Mind is. That is why in the Bible, when Jesus was asked which is the most important commandment, He replied, Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with ALL your MIND. Based on my experienced, "All your MIND", means it is within our decision to which thoughts we shall permit to enter into our minds, the enemy or the thoughts of God.

Before I accepted Jesus to be the Lord of my life, it is so hard for me to convert my thoughts into the thoughts of God but now the Holy Spirit helps me to identify and recognize which is of God's. As I read the Bible now, I understand why God really hates a double-minded or with divided loyalty man, because it is written also that God made a covenant that He will put his laws on our hearts and write them on our minds. So, we must purify our thoughts with the help of the Holy Spirit, because the holy and unholy cannot be put together.

It has been said, Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. In living a new life with Christ, we are encouraged to think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth (Romans 8:5-8) and not to copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform us into a new person by changing the way we think.

For those who believe, let this be an encouragement to meditate, eat and apply the instructions made by God through the Holy Spirit for it is written study this book of instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

ALABASTER JAR

We have a househelper whom we fondly called "jao li" because it is the name of the facial care that she used on her face. Anyway, jao li is very diligent in her chores like cleaning the house to the extent that you will not find the things in the place where you used to put them. When she was in Negros (our hometown), my father sometimes lost his temper because his things was not in the place where he puts it. Good thing however, is that she will not steal.

My point here, is that no matter how diligent we are in what we do if it is not in line with God's will it will not make God smile.

Let me tell you another story about Martha and Mary in the bible. Martha and Mary are sisters. When Jesus was invited in their house in honor of Lazarus coming back to life, Martha was distracted with much serving while Mary took a pint of pure nard (alabaster jar), an expensive perfume worth a year's wages. So, Martha went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me. But the Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has CHOSEN the GOOD PORTION, which will not be taken away from her. In the same act, Judas Iscariot objected by saying, why wasn's this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. But Jesus said, leave her alone, it was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.(Luke 10:38-42; John 12:2-8)

I am not saying though that it is not good to do household chores...hehehe...my point is that let us check our motives and purpose if it is in line with God's will. No one is exempted including me. Let us be like Mary and not Martha.